Queer as Folk

About Queer as Folk

Queer as Folk is an American-Canadian serial drama television series that debuted in 2000. The show closely follows the lives and relationships of a group of gay friends living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The storyline was a direct adaptation of the UK series of the same name. It paints a vivid picture of the gay experience, exploring themes of love, friendship, prejudice, and self-discovery.

Making / Production

The series was developed by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, who were also the writers and executive producers. It was co-produced by America's Showtime and Canada's Showcase. The production methods used were groundbreaking at the time, with an explicit portrayal of gay life and sexuality serving as a distinguishing feature of the series.

Actors

• Gale Harold as Brian Kinney: Played the lead role, showcasing a promiscuous yet successful advertising executive with a complex personality.
• Randy Harrison as Justin Taylor: A young artist who develops a relationship with Brian and faces numerous challenges in this journey.
• Hal Sparks as Michael Novotny: Brian's best friend, who struggles with his unrequited feelings for Brian and his own self-image.
• Peter Paige as Emmett Honeycutt: The flamboyantly gay, oftencomic, and always lovable character who brings charm to the series.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title 'Queer as Folk' originates from a dialect phrase in Northern England, 'there's nowt so queer as folk', meaning 'there's nothing as strange as people'.
• The series was initially filmed in Toronto before the setting was shifted to Pittsburgh in later seasons.
• It is one of the earliest mainstream shows to have featured a majority cast of gay characters.

Awards

Though the series courted controversy, it won several awards including the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

Quotes

• "It's not about who you love, it's about how you love."
• "We're here, we're queer, get used to it."
• "Happiness...it's so close, yet so far away."

Music, Soundtrack

• "Spunk" by Greek Buck: The show’s iconic theme song.
• "Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Kiyomi Hawley: Featured prominently in the series, embodying the spirit of the show.
• "Straight To... Number One" by Touch and Go: Another popular tune from the series, symbolizing the series' openness about sexuality.